Criminal Sentenced to Church

By Eric on March 22, 2008

Separation of church and state? What’s that?

 [Pachino] Hill, 29, of Davenport was sentenced Wednesday by Scott County Associate Judge Christine Dalton to a counseling program offered by Third Missionary Baptist Church. She also ordered him to attend church there eight consecutive Sundays, to pay a fine and be on probation for one year.
…
Prosecutor Marc Gellerman did not object to the counseling program [suggested by Hill's attorney] but did request that Hill attend church services.

“I would think that listening to Rev. Kirk every Sunday would be very beneficial for Mr. Hill,” Gellerman said, adding that Hill reaching out to Kirk “says a lot.”

If Hill skips out on one of Rev. Kirk’s court-ordered sermon, he’ll end up in jail for two years.

I don’t understand how any lawyer, especially a judge, can think that this punishment is even constitutional, let alone appropriate. Is Hill even a Christian? Has he ever been to church in his life? Did Judge Dalton ask any of these questions or take any of this into account before making her ruling?

This is not a Christian nation, folks, which means that no government official should be permitted to force anyone, for any reason, into any house of worship.

(h/t TRex)

Tags: First Amendment, Pachino Hill, separation of church and state

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